Gas-engine.



I G. T. HANGHETT.

GAS ENGINE.

I APPLICATION FILED FEB. 3, 1912.

Patented June 24, 1913.

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GAS ENGINE.

APPLICATION PIEED FEB. 3, 1912.

Patented June 24, 1913.

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N. Y., ASS'IGNOR TO MAXWELL-MOTOR I GLASS-ENGINE.

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Specification of Letters Iate-nt.

Patented June 24,1913.

Application filed February 3, 1912. Serial No. 675,270.

To all whom it'may concern Be it known that I, GEORGE T. HANCHE'IT, a citizen, of the United States, residing in the city, county, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Gas-Engines, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

My invention relates to improvements in gas engines, and has for its object to providemeans for- *placing;,the engine crank shaft in a favorable position for starting by exploding gas supplied to the cylinders from an auxiliary source.

Many attempts have heretofore been made to start gas enginesby exploding charges of gas from auxiliary, sources, but it has been found that, for some reason, in a large proportion of cases the engines fail to start. I have discovered that one reason for many of such failures is thatthe shaft of the engine is not properly positioned, with the result that either the charge does not explode, or does not in exploding act effectively to produce torque.

The object of my invention is to overcome these difiiculties.

A further object of my invention is to provide means whereby a charge of gas is controlled so as to set the engine and is then forced into the engine cylinders for starting purposes.

The following is a. description of an embodiment of my invention, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, in which- I Figure 1 shows in diagrammatic form apparatus embodying my invention. Fig. 2

- is a modification of the same whereby the charge of gas for the engine cylinders actuates the setting means. Fig. 3 is a sectional detail. I v

.Referring more particularly to the drawings, 1, 2, 8 and 4; represent fourcylinders of a gas engine to be started. For the convenience of illustration I have selected an engine of the two-cycle type, my invento engines of the four-cycle type.

' l, 2, 3' and 4' are crank casings shown in dotted lines.

5 is the crank shaft of the engine having four cranks displaced by angles of 90, as

is the regular practice in four-cylinder engines of the two-cycle type.

6,, 7, 8 and .9 are the pistons connected to the crank shaft by the piston rods 10,

11,, 12 and 13[ Connected to the shaft of r the engine is a ratchet wheel lehhaving four arms which are in line with the four cranks respectively.

15 is a plunger normally retracted by a spring 16 and adapted to be operated by the foot; \Vhen this plunger is depressed to the posit-ion shown in dotted. lines, its movement being then limited by the top of the sleeve 15, it engages one of the arms of the ratchet wheel, if the shaft 5 is not in proper position for starting, and forces it downward, turning the crank shaft into the position shown in the drawing, which is a position favorable for starting. 17, 18, 19 and 20 ,are pipes leading from any suitable auxiliary sources of explosive gas, such as acetylene gas; and 21, 22,23 and 24L are check valves in these pipes, which are closed by the back pressure due to explosions in the cylinders of the engine.

In operating. my device, the plunger 15 is first forced downward, until its head engages the sleeve 15, thereby positioning the crank shaft 5 in a suitable-position forstarting. Gas is then introduced into the several cylinders through the pipes 17 18, 19 and 20, and the ordinary ignitionsparks produced, whereuponithe charge in the cylinder at is first exploded,-whichis thereupon followed by sparks'iahd explosions in the cylinders 1, 2 and 35in theordinary manner. After the first explosion in any of these cylinders, mixed air and fueliis drawn in through the carbureter in the ordinary manner, and the engine continues to aperate in the ordinary manner.

In the IIlOdlfiClttlOIllll Fig. 2, the setting plunger 15 is' provided with a piston 25 within a plunger cylinder 26, the cylinder being providedwith stops 15 for limiting the downward 'throw' of the plunger 15, which is retracted by the spring 16. At the top of the casting of this plunger cylinder is a separate chamber 28 formed by the Wall tion being applicable to that type as well as i 31, having its plug operated by an arm 32 J 33, which which is connected to aplun'gf r he twowvay is retracted by a spring 34.,

' ber 28, and a port 37 to which the pipe 30 is connected. The, plug 38 otthe valve is cut away at 39, so that when the valve is in the position shown in Fig. 2, the ports 35 and 36 are connected. together, thereby connecting the plunger operating cylinder 26 with the chamber 28 and pipes 17, 18, 19, 20. The plug 88 has also a cut-away portion it), which, when the plunger is depressed, connects the ports and 57 together, so that the plunger cylinder 26 is connected through the pipe 2-30 to the tank 39.

The operation of this device is as follows: Vl hen it is desired to set the shaft in the proper position, the plunger i l is depressed, so that the turn. plug 38 is revolved. until the tank 29 is connected with the plunger cylinder, whereupon the plunger 15 is forced down so as to engage the ratchet wheel let and set the shaft in the proper position. 'lThereupon the plunger 34 is released, where-- upon the valve plug 38 is turned until the port 35 is connected with the port 36, est-ab. iishing a connection between the plunger cylinder 26 the chamber 28 and pipes 1'7, its, 1D and 20. The plunger piston 15 is then forced upward by the spring 16, forcing the gas out oithe plunger cylinder 26 through the valve 31 into the chamber 28, and thence through the pipes 17, 18, 19 and 20 into the cylinders 1, 2, 3 and 4;, priming the engine for starting. By this means both the set ting operation and the priming of the engineare brought about by the manipulation of the plunger 34. i

As will be evident to those skilled in the art, niv invention permits of tarious inediout the spirit fications without depa ting I the ppended i ger, the position of said ratchet being such that when said plunger is actuated to the limit of its throw the shaft will be suitably positioned for starting by inc-ans of gas supplied :trozn an auxiliary source to the cylinders of the engine, and means for supplying such gas to said cylinders. f

n a engine, the combination of a pluralitycf cylinders, pistons, piston rods and a cranl-rshait, with a ratchet mounted upon said crank shaft, a plunger having: a limited throw adapted to operate said ratchet, a spring for retracting said plunger, the position of said ratchet being such that whensaid plunger is actuated to the limit of its throw the shaft will be suitably positioned for starting by means oi: gas supplied :t'roin an auxiliary source to the cylinders of the engine, pipes for supplying such. gas to said cylinders, a piston head (:01): nected to said plunger, a plunger cylinder i=cr said piston head, aisource of gas under pressure, and a valve for connecting said plunger cylinder with said source or with said pipes different times.

in a gas engine, the combination of a plurality of cylinders, pistons, piston rods and a crank shztiit, with a ratchetmounted upon said cranli' shaft, a plunger having limited throw adapted to operate i said ratchet, a spring for retracting said plunger,

the position of ratchet being such that when said plunger is actuated to the limit oi? its throw the shaft will he suitably positioned'icr starting by means oi supplied from an. auxiliary source to the c linders of the engine, pipes for supplying such has to said cylinders, a piston head connected to said plunger, a plunger cylinder for said piston head, a source of under pressure, and valve for connecting said plunger cylinder with said source or with said pipes at dill'erent times, and spring retracted means for operating said valve. 1

caches 'r. sauces Witnesses Crisis. 151. lllrncn, liars Wilson.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Gommissioner of Patents,

Washington, B. C. 

